Parasol or umbrella



May 17, 1932. P. KRUGER 1,858,960

PARASOL OR UMBRELLA Filed July 14, 1931- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES PAUL KRfi'GER, or B R IN, GERMANY PARASOL OR UMBRELLA Application filed July 14, 1931, Serial No. 550,791, and in Germany July 18, 1930.

My invention relates to a parasol or umbrella, the spokes of which are not hinged to a central member that is shiftable upon the stick, as is usually the case. The object of the invention, from a commercial point of View, is to present the public a very cheap parasol or umbrella which, although being manufactured from materials of light weight, such as wood and paper (wood for the spokes and paper for the covering), is sufficiently rigid in unfolded state so that it is even by a strong wind prevented from being turned up, and which, owing to its very low selling-price, can be sold by means of coin-in-the-slot apparatus.

The chief features of the invention are these that, firstly, a comparatively thick abutment member is arranged upon the stick just over the center portion of the covering, this portion being clamped in between two flanges of a sleeve or the like embracing the stick just below said abutment member, and that, secondly, an axially shiftable member is provided below said sleeve a little remote therefrom, the arrangement being such that when said shiftable member is moved against the covering of the parasol or umbrella so that its rim contacts the spokes, and that when the shifting is continued a little, the central portion of the covering is bent axially along and over said abutment member so as to enclose it at and around its circumference whereby the spokes are drawn radially inwards, i. e. in the direction toward the said abutment member, in consequence whereof the covering is put under tension so as to become sufficiently stifi to be able to stand even a strong wind, in that the covering has assumed a conical shape and this cone is so rigid in itself that turning over of the covering is securely prevented.

I have already mentioned paper as a material suited for use as covering for my im proved parasol or umbrella, but I wish it to be understood that also any other suitable material may be used; in the case of paper water-proof paper is, of course, chosen. The center portion of the covering is preferably protected outwardly and inwardly by small shields of waterproof paper, fabric, thin of a parasol or umbrella designed according to this invention, only those parts of the covering and the spokes being shown which are located near the stick, the parasol 0r umbrella shown in open state, but not yet in its final position of use. Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the covering and the axially shiftable member being in its ultimate position of use. Figure 3 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the entire parasol or umbrella ready for use; and Figure 5 shows the parasol'or umbrella in collapsed state.

Referring to Fig. 1, the stick 1 of the parasol or umbrella is reduced in diameter at its upper end 1 and there is located on this end a short sleeve 2 having two flanges 2 and 2 between which the center portion of the covering 3 is clamped fast. Just above this center portion is a shield 4, and just below the center portion is a shield 5, and these parts,

including the covering 3 and the spokes 6,

which are assumed to consist of wood, are firmly connected with one another by wire staples 7, the legs of which extend from above through the superposed parts 4, 3, 5, 6, the ends of said legs being bent round against the lower surface of the spokes 6,- as shown inv Fig. l. The spokes 6 extend to the rim of the covering, and this rim may be reinforced, for instance by being bent inwardly, as shown at 3 in Fig. 4. The spokes 6 and the covering 3 may be connected with one another by means of a cementing medium or the like, preferably along the entire length of the spokes. The free end 1 of the stick 1 is also provided with a comparatively thick abutment member 8 which may serve also as a tightening member, and above this member is a sleeve 9 by which said member 8 is securely retained in'its place.

Below the covering or, more precisely, below the shield 5 and the inner ends of the 1 spokes 6, is an axially shiftable plate or cup 10 which is connected with a sleeve 10 having a bayonet slot 11 cooperating with a pin 12 inserted into the stick 1. When these parts 10 and 12 are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the free upper end of the slot 11 is located just below the pin 12 and the sleeve 10 with the plate 10 can be shoved upwardly until the pin has arrived in the lower end of the slot, whereafter the plate or the sleeve 7 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 2 in which these parts are secured in their position by the bayonet closure. I wish it to be understood that for the locking means just described equivalent means may be substituted.

l/Vhen the plate 10 is shoved upwardly, it soon contacts with the spokes 6 and lifts the same together with the covering 3 and the shields 4 and 5, and when then the shifting of the plate 10 is continued, the center portions of the covering and of the two shields are shoved upwardly over the abutment member 8, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the inner ends of the spokes are drawn inwardly against the covering and the latter is subjected to tension over its entire extent. Tearing in of the covering at its rim is prevented by the reinforcement 8 The tension is distributed uniformly over the entire extent of the covering by the tension-foldings 13 produced in the center part of the covering, and the conical covering is now so rigid that it can stand even a strong wind without being turned over.

I claim:

A parasol or umbrella, comprising, in combination with the stick and the covering and with flexible means for attaching the center portion of the covering to the stick; an abutment member located upon the stick above said means spokes connected with said covering and terminating at their inner ends beyond the periphery of said abutment member; and movable means located upon the said stick below the said covering and adapted to be shifted along the stick towards the covering so as to lift it and to draw its center portion over the circumference of said abutment member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

PAUL KRT IGER. 

